To draw a sub divided bar percentage diagram, you'll represent each component of a whole as a segment within a single bar, with the length of each segment proportional to its percentage. The key is to accumulate percentages as you move along the bar.
Here's a step-by-step guide, incorporating insights from the provided reference:
Steps for Creating a Subdivided Bar Percentage Diagram
- Gather Your Data: Collect the data you want to represent. This data should be in the form of percentages that add up to 100%.
- For example, you might have data showing the percentage of expenses broken down into categories like rent (30%), groceries (20%), entertainment (15%), utilities(25%) and savings (10%).
- Draw the Bar: Begin by drawing a rectangle that will represent the "whole" – 100% of your data. This bar should have a uniform width. The length doesn't matter, but make sure it fits nicely on your graph.
- Calculate Cumulative Percentages: This is a crucial step. Instead of starting each segment from zero, we use cumulative percentages.
- Start with the first category's percentage: this becomes the starting point for the first segment. In our example, this is 30% (rent).
- For the next category, add its percentage to the previous cumulative value. The cumulative percentage for groceries will be 30% + 20% = 50%.
- Continue this process for all categories. The cumulative values in our example will be: rent = 30%, groceries = 50%, entertainment = 65%, utilities = 90%, savings = 100%.
- Divide the Bar:
- Mark the cumulative percentage values along the length of your bar.
- For the first category, the segment will extend from 0 to the percentage of rent: 30%.
- The second category segment (groceries) will extend from 30% up to the next cumulative value: 50%. The visual length will be from 30 to 50, representing a length of 20%.
- Repeat this for each category, with each segment starting where the previous one ended, and extending in length to reflect the percentage of each category.
- The final segment should end at 100%.
- Label and Color-Code:
- Label each segment with its respective category and percentage.
- Use different colors or patterns for each segment to make it easier to distinguish them visually. This will enhance the readability of your chart.
Example:
| Category | Percentage | Cumulative Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | 30% | 30% |
| Groceries | 20% | 50% |
| Entertainment | 15% | 65% |
| Utilities | 25% | 90% |
| Savings | 10% | 100% |
The video excerpt ([Part of a video titled Percentage subdivided bar diagram - YouTube]) highlights the idea of using cumulative percentage, noting that instead of counting 20 units after the 30% marker we simply accumulate it to 50%, which serves as the next mark on the subdivided bar.
Key Points:
- Subdivided bar diagrams are effective for showing the composition of a whole.
- The length of each segment represents the percentage it occupies within the whole.
- Always use cumulative percentages to mark segments along the bar.
- Clear labeling and coloring are important for readability.
By following these steps, you can create clear and informative sub divided bar percentage diagrams.
